Why in the UK do we call Private schools Public Schools, when they're not really open to the public ?

Question

Why in the UK do we call Private schools Public Schools, when they're not really open to the public ?

Answer 1

I don't know which area of the UK you are in, but where I am when we are talking about Private Schools we say Private Schools.

Answer 2

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_scho...  

Answer 3

Who attends them then exactly. Are those that can afford public schools for their children not seen as members of the public then.  

Answer 4

We don't. A private school and a public school are different things. A Private school is one you have to pay to attend. A public school is one you don't have to pay but you have to pass an exam to attend (like a boys/girls grammar school) So it is open to the public, but only the really clever ones get in.  

Answer 5

Hi there.

Historically, they were called Public schools because anybody could go (as long as they could afford it). Changing times haven't forced them to change name, so they haven't! Previously all education was done in small private groups, usually at home.

All of them are registered charitiesa and they take small numbers of scholarship pupils, so in theory they ARE open to everybody. Doesn't quite work out that way of course...

Cheers, Steve.

Answer 6

Thats always been my gripe. Could never understand it. Just for the record, they're the worst school ever so anyone thinking about sending their child to one - don't do it. I attended one from the age of 7 and it screwed me up.

Answer 7

"Public school" in the UK means that anyone who is not a member of the nobility or gentry can attend the school if they have the money to pay the fees.  State or village schools are the ones that people can attend without having to pay fees.

Answer 8

Public Schools are so called because they are funded by the public, by way of tuition fees, paid by those who attend the school.

State schools are funded by the Government, ie the state and are financed through the paying of income tax.

Answer 9

dunno, in America it is the opposite, i.e. private schools are actually private and public schools are actually open to the public. There must be some historical explanation for it though.

Answer 10

Because any member of the public can go there if they have enough money!

No, it started in 1364 when a Bishop referred to a private school as 'public' to distinguish it from schools run by the Church that any child could attend.

The latter usually catered to aristocrats, but with a few places reserved for pupils paid for by a charity.